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The severity of the offence would normally guarantee a custodial sentence for the defendant.

But at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday (May 16), Judge Ian Pringle delayed sentencing the medical student for four months because of her "extraordinary" talent - and she may escape a jail term.

People have voiced their anger over this decision, with many saying her crime means she should not be allowed to practise medicine.

Sam King said on Facebook: "Drug and alcohol fuelled stabbing - causing injury to another individual.... And she's spared sentencing because she might be an amazing surgeon one day.

"What example is that to society - I wonder if this person was unemployed if the punishment would be different. Sadly I imagine it would be. Disgusting, she should be appropriately punished and loose (sic) her right to practice medicine."

Theresa Marshall commented: "There is good reason why potential surgeons need to have no record of a conviction for a violent crime, this is a dangerous precedent and should be looked at again as it risks the public losing trust in the medical profession."

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Elizabeth Cliffe said: "If her future career as a surgeon is so important maybe, just maybe, she shouldn't have stabbed her boyfriend??? Nobody should be excused prison just because they are particularly clever."

Others have called out her privileged position as the reason why she may be spared prison.

Amy Hancock said online: "The worst thing about this is that if this had been a regular young person who wasn't so privileged they would have faced prison time no question.

"She's a spoilt rich kid and so she gets away with it? How can you have one rule for one and different for another?

"Personal circumstance should not even be considered. In fact they should take her medical career away for how unprofessional she clearly is!"

Daniel Williamson said: "Why is this news? She got away with it. That means we can all go around stabbing people as long as we claim that jail will ruin our career prospects.

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"Wait...jail ruins the career prospects for everyone...why is anyone in jail?"

He joked: "Also I wouldn't want her operating on me. What if she uses a bread knife instead of a scalpel?"

A number of people also highlighted what they thought was an issue of gender in the judge's ruling:

Lee Parnell said: "Women often get less of a punishment than men for the same crime. If this was man stabbing a women there is no doubt he would have gone to prison regardless of how 'clever he was'. Once again gender equality isn't quite equal."

Xavier Tait agreed, simpy saying: "Had this been a male student..."

But Paige Parker argued against this, saying: "Urm you seem to be forgetting that Brock Turner raped a girl and got away with it due to him being a "swim star". This isn't okay, but this isn't a sexist issue."

Paul Howells thought it was right to give Woodward a lenient sentence. He said: "I have to disagree, why destroy a career due to a young mistake."

Adam Harris responded to him, saying it was a case of "over privileged people getting let off". He continued: "Paul, a young mistake is stealing something, drink driving.

"Stabbing someone with a bread knife high on drug and drink is not a young mistake, she should be in jail, doesn't matter what her back ground or possible future is."